plate no. 1938

The Trial of Madame Roland

Jose Gutierrez Solana, 1929

oil, canvasExpressionismgenre paintingfiguresinteriorcourtroomhistoricalclothinglighting

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering figures in complex lighting and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective. It also provides practice in capturing expressive gestures and facial expressions.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch to establish the overall composition and placement of figures.
step 02
Block in the main shapes and values using thin washes of color.
step 03
Focus on establishing the light source and the areas of highlight and shadow.
step 04
Develop the figures, paying attention to proportions and anatomical details.
step 05
Add details to the clothing and background elements.
step 06
Refine the values and colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 07
Add final highlights and details to the faces and clothing.
step 08
Glaze with thin layers to unify the colors and add depth.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · ultramarine blue

Achieve the muted tones by mixing earth tones with small amounts of primary colors. Use white to lighten values and create highlights. Mix black and umber for dark shadows.

techniques